The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive.As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendallis about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried

REVIEW

CRYER'S CROSS by Lisa McMann has been a highly anticipated book for me. I like reading a suspenseful, frightening story and this book seemed to fit the bill. Yet, as I was reading it, I could feel the tendrils of fear but just like whispers on the wind, the fear dissipates never truly taking hold.

The story was well paced and edged with mystery from it's very first words and the tension seemed to build with every page, so I was a bit surprised that although I could recognise this I was not fully engaged. The story is not predictable, but there is a repetitious nature in regards to Kendall's maudlin memories over a missing loved one, but I attribute that to keeping in character to her compulsive nature. Her character's issues soon uncover a dark and dangerous truth that leads her to a desk that she is convinced hosts the entity of her boyfriend Nico. The ultimate mystery of why and how the school desk is possessed is glossed over and not too convincing.

What I could relate to in this story was the protagonist that did not follow in the cliche of girls portrayed in books recently. Kendall, is an ordinary girl with OCD who desperately tries to hide these compulsions so that people would not find her odd. And her world is rocked to it's core when her "boyfriend" disappears without a trace, leaving her feeling lost and alone. To witness her struggle with the situation is heartbreaking because I can truly feel the loss that she is experiencing for the relationship that she has with Nico is well detailed and realistic.

In the end I did find this book to provide a bit of escape reading, because once you do begin you feel a compulsion to finish. The need to uncover the truth in regards to it's mystery is attributed to Lisa McMann's quality of writing. I only wish that I the tone was a bit more menacing.

Did I forget to mention that CRYER'S CROSS is also a stand alone novel? A fact that I can truly appreciate, because I truly miss stand alone reads.

Hello! I am the Ravenous Reader and I love to read and find my happiness in devouring as many YA novels as I possibly can. When I am not reading then you can find me chatting up books with my blogging buddy and bookish friends to the point of distraction. I am also extremely fortunate to live in an area that has a plethora or YA events that I love chronicling on my Instagram account.